falling. When her eyes opened, she was standing in Crestwood Academy's cafeteria. But eve

r face. She knew what thi

eling in her chest. This was her escape. Here, she didn't have to be the quiet girl who hid in c

tle group of followers. Brittany, Lila, and Ava were all there, laughing their perfect little laughs l

look away like she usually did. In her world, C

as she walked over. Everyone went quiet, like someone had hit

enjoying every single seco

ire's voice shook, all t

face-the kind she'd never dare show in real life. "It's your turn no

p, but they weren't Claire's little puppets anymore-they belonged to Sc

back from the table. "Wha

bed Claire's lunch tray and flipped it over. Food went everywhere-mashed potat

this super sweet voice t

r hands were shaking so bad she just made i

now. "This isn't about what's wrong with us," she said, keeping

She tried to break free, screaming, "Let go of me!" But h

ry and dark, but Scarlett didn't care about them-they were just extras in

the floor, clearing this big space in the middle. Claire stumbled as

rned evil as she dumped it right over Claire's head. The white liquid soaked thro

er got so l

re was actually begging n

t, and suddenly Ava was holding a bucket full of feathers. She didn't even hesitate before dumping them

n she looked up at Scarlett, her mascara w

g this?" she choke

le went cold. "

en down and crying. This was exactly what she'd wanted-

everythi

ed feeling. The laughter just... stopped. The air got cold, like someone had o

all the blurry faces. Nothing seemed wrong, bu

en she

houlders, wearing this black coat that seemed to eat up all the light around it. His whi

eyes-god,

o belong in a dream. When they locked onto hers, it felt like he cou

. He just watched her with this tiny smirk o

ght. She blinked, and he

er like wet paint as the dream fell apart. Her heart was pounding s

sneaking through her curtains. Her hand pressed

e told herself. *It

ke just a dream. It fe

-

anywhere, Lucien Salvatore leaned back

een in centuries-and he'd seen a lot of dreams. The way she felt everything so deeply-all

dream by accident, drawn in by how strong it felt. Like a lighthou

special.

eeded to

no idea he even existed, no clue that her dreams had be

as he let himself melt in

tting started, and he

t made Scarlett Hayes so... interesting. And maybe,

s specialty. And hers? Her